Hulu picks up Netflix’s EPIX deal

September 1, 2015

Premium streaming TV service Hulu and premium entertainment network EPIX have agreed what they describe as a landmark, multi-year digital SVoD deal that will bring new releases from Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount to Hulu for the first time beginning October 1st.

Hulu replaces Netflix as EPIX’s streaming partner. Separately, Netflix revealed that it had not to renew its agreement in the US with Epix, resulting in the loss to the service of some high profile movies including Hunger Games: Catching Fire, World War Z and Transformers: Age of Extinction, will expire at the end of September in the US.

“While many of these movies are popular, they are also widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix and subject to the same drawn out licensing periods. Through our original films and some innovative licensing arrangements with the movie studios, we are aiming to build a better movie experience for you,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos wrote in a blog post.

Recent hits from EPIX, including Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Interstellar, Selma, Top Five and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, which have never before been available on a streaming SVoD service, will become available on Hulu in the coming months.

“Hulu already offers some of the best and biggest titles in television programming, but our subscribers have been asking us for more, and more recent, big movies. We listened. Through this new deal with EPIX, we are proud to now be able to offer a huge selection of the biggest blockbusters and premium films,” said Craig Erwich, SVP, Head of Content, Hulu. “This is a landmark deal for Hulu and it marks a huge expansion for our offering of premium programming.”

“Hulu has become one of the most popular premium streaming services and EPIX’s agreement is evidence of their understanding of the value that our blockbuster Hollywood films, deep library of classic film titles and original programming brings to consumers,” said Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX. “We are excited to be partnering with Hulu, and share their commitment to providing viewers a truly premium experience, particularly as we enter the next phase of our network’s growth and development.”

Hulu will continue to roll out new hit titles, library films and original programming from EPIX through each year of the deal, bringing thousands of new theatrical releases and classic film titles to Hulu subscribers. All new theatrical releases and original programming will be available during its digital streaming window, which begins 90 days after the start of the traditional pay television window.

The deal represents a significant expansion in Hulu’s film offering. Over the past year, Hulu has become the streaming home to a significant number of films from the IFC Films collection through its deal with AMC Networks, and became the first-ever streaming service to offer a premium add-on through its platform with its distribution deal with SHOWTIME. Hulu is also the exclusive streaming home to hundreds of classic, award-winning films from The CriterionCollection.